Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below
napsgear
genezapharmateuticals
domestic-supply
puritysourcelabs
UGL OZ
UGFREAK
napsgeargenezapharmateuticals domestic-supplypuritysourcelabsUGL OZUGFREAK

Anyone else that can't touch their toes?

Seashell

Seashell

El Kabong
Platinum
What the hell is wrong with me? I stretch after every workout, which is 5-6 times a week, for over a year, and I STILL can't touch my toes.

My chiropractor, while attempting to stretch my hamstrings, said I was one step from rigormortis. :D

Normally I wouldn't care, but I find it affects how low I can go while doing SLDL's.. I can only get a few inches past the knee before it hurts.

Anyone else as in-flexible as me?
 
look familiar?

frankenstein.gif


:lmao:

Just funnin' ya. Good luck trying to get more flexible. You're already stretching and going to a chiro. I don't know what else to tell you...
 
Seashell said:


Normally I wouldn't care, but I find it affects how low I can go while doing SLDL's.. I can only get a few inches past the knee before it hurts.

Anyone else as in-flexible as me?
Click to expand...

I'm very flexible, but you shouldn't need to go all the way to your toes for SLDLs. Take a look at this thread that was on the women's board. The first post talks about SLDLs about half way down:

http://boards.elitefitness.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=202716
 
Dammit! I AM a freak! :D I was hoping someone would agree with me, but it seems I'm all alone in my state of rigormortis!

I already tried the "blame bad genetics" thing, I made both my mom and dad, who are in their 50's, try to touch their toes. They both beat me. :mad: That is so wrong.

As far as my stretching, I do the stand up and then bend forward to touch toes one. And one my chiro showed me, laying down on back, lifting leg straight up, and using a towel to hook around the ankle and slowly pull the leg forward.

Makedah: Bwahahaha!! Nice picture! I'm not QUITE that stiff, but close! :)
 
Lucid Blue: Yeah, I'm not trying to go all the way down for SLDL's, but I want to go mid-shin level and right now I can't.

For just stretching, I figure I should be able to go all the way down.
 
but how are you doing those stretches???........... bouncing....... holding for a minutes, how do you do them???

X
 
Exodus,

No bouncing. I go down as far as I can go until I feel a decent stretch, hold for 30 seconds. I do this 3 times for each.

What do u think?
 
Seashell said:
As far as my stretching, I do the stand up and then bend forward to touch toes one. And one my chiro showed me, laying down on back, lifting leg straight up, and using a towel to hook around the ankle and slowly pull the leg forward.

Makedah: Bwahahaha!! Nice picture! I'm not QUITE that stiff, but close! :)
Click to expand...

Luv, you gotta do more than that. These are what I do for hams. I've been doing it since I was in H.S. (I'm 30 now)

Modified Hurdler stretch: Sit with one leg straight out in front of you and the other bent (the sole of that foot will be on or near the inner thigh of the other leg). This is the opposite of the old stretch, which had the leg bent behind you. bend and the waist and reach for the ankle of the extended foot, then as you progress, the ball of the foot. Try to keep the back as flat as possible. Avoid arcing up over your extended leg.

Straddle stretch: http://www.exrx.net/Stretches/Hamstrings/SeatedSingleLeg.html I do these reaching for one leg at a time, and then I bring my arms to the center and inch forward. Work on bringing your upper body closer to your legs (or the floor), and work on taking your legs farther and farther apart. Very flexible people can place their chests on the floor during this move and have their legs at almost 180 degrees.
 
Makedah: Okay, I'm gonna try adding those in. I do that second one you described already, I thought it was more of a "back" stretch so I didn't list it. But I only do it to the sides,(ie reaching to the foot), so I will add in a "to the middle" stretch. And I'll try that first one you described as well tonight.

Thanks!
 
Hey, here's a pic of what I was calling the "modified hurdler stretch." Of course you want to work on bending deeper than this chap.

ham.jpg
 
I stretch a little before all workouts, and a bunch after. I also ran cross country in high school for 3 years and stretched a ton every day for that. I can just barely touch my toes. Flexibility can be improved, but some people are just more flexible than others. And, yes, I know how to properly stretch.
 
Makedah: That picture of the guy stretching is about as far as I can go, seriously, and I've been doing that stretch for months. :)
Once when I was doing that stretch, a long time ago, at the end of an aerobics class, the instructor says, "Okay now lean forward and grasp the toe", so I do my thing, and I look like the guy in the picture, and the instructor catches my eye and says "Go ahead, lean forward". I was like, ummm.. I already am.. .this is as far as she goes! *lol*
 
Backlash:

It baffles me, I have been stretching since highschool as well, and very regularly this past year, at the direction of my chiropractor, and I seem to make very little improvement. I suppose it's not that big of a deal, I just find it hinders my SLDL's a bit and my Good Mornings, but as long as I'm not getting injuries, that's the main thing. I think you're right though, some people just aren't as flexible as others, regardless of how much stretching they do.
 
i never stretch much, never have. but i have great flexibility for being so, umm.... large. i can touch my toes and then some if i need to. i think my flexibilty has come from just lifting weights and training in a larger ROM occasionally.
 
You can increase your stretch by stretching to each side. Like touching your right hand as close to your left ankle as possible. Loosens up muscles in the back that don't get hit when going straight down. After doing each side I can get another couple of inches on the forward stretch.
 
Last edited:
When you bend over to touch your toes, you need a flexible back and hips as well. Most people I work with don't have very flexible hips at all.
 
I never stretch either & my flexibility sucks-- but on SLDLs you arent going to the floor anyway-- I think its only a problem if your taking yoga *gag*
 
I can put my hands flat on the ground, but if I go a few weeks without stretching, then I can just barely touch my toes.

I need to find some good lower back stretches.
 
damn guys, i thought I was bad...I used to be a great stretcher when i was in karate like 12 years ago. I used to be able to do those sweep kicks...Where I'd be standing on one leg, and my head would be about a foot from the ground while my other leg was up in the air sweeping back and forth at a target.

I'm not sure if I hurt my back before or after that..But I know today at 26, my stretching sucks ass. I've tried doing it daily, eevry other day..Thinking I needed to let my legs rest up and heal...Still nothing..Furthest I've gotten to in recent times are my palms flat on the floor.
 
I feel the strech by the time i get to my knees!!! have never touched my toes, but my bro scots man can almost do the full splits. so much for genetics :(

Later......

BIGJGrimm
 
Are you warmed up before you stretch? It really helps to hop on the bike/treadmill, etc for 5-10 minutes before to get the blood moving and muscles loose.

Have someone help you stretch! I love when my bf takes my leg and slings it over his shoulder and presses his hips into my....(oops!) ;) But really, having someone to push you farther than you can go by yourself is really helpful. I am really flexible and need assistance to stretch any further (for most things).

MSBH, you may hate yoga...but it is very effective for increasing your flexibility and core strength. Yeah, I'd rather be lifting, but sometimes your body needs a good stretch more than another pump.
 
spatts said:
Most people I work with don't have very flexible hips at all.
Click to expand...

I was going to ask about hips and decided to leave it alone. I'm dissatisfied with my groin and hip flexibility in adduction.

Yoga has some poses that give a great hip stretch.

I forgot who asked - but I can do a split. I know Spatts can, as well as the fitness ladies.
 
spatts said:
When you bend over to touch your toes, you need a flexible back and hips as well. Most people I work with don't have very flexible hips at all.
Click to expand...

They should try Zercher Deadlifts...;)
 
Seashell, you're not the only one.

I couldn't touch my toes until last year, and even now, there are days when I can do it, and days I can't.

I don't stretch regularly because I hate it, and that's part of my problem. Working out's great...stretching sucks.

I have found that doing seated GM's does help me stretch and improve flexibility.
 
I can almost put my hands flat on the floor after a few seconds of light stretching...Must be all the hip flexor work I do with Deb HAHAH!!!!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

RawCutlery
Raw Cutlery log (Road To Domination)
Replies
11
Views
237
RawCutlery
RawCutlery
A
my body is too fragile
Replies
18
Views
2K
Tiger Salman Khan
Tiger Salman Khan
Dr.Dolittle
Approved Log 2025 IFBB debut cycle and progress Log
2 3 4 5
Replies
456
Views
36K
Raptor Rep
Raptor Rep
MaxMore
Will HGH Work for Me?
Replies
34
Views
4K
MUSTANG_18
MUSTANG_18
Snarling Force
Tren questions dealing with sexual function, and possible interactions with ADHD meds
Replies
24
Views
3K
Slyderkt
Slyderkt
Top Bottom